Dusting off an Opening Day legend

And it must seem like deja vu all over again for the co-holder of the Japanese record for the most home runs (tied at 55 with Sadaharu Oh).

But it was Corey Patterson's turn to turn in the updated version of Rhodes' three-home-run Opening Day in 1994. Patterson went 4-for-6 with two homers, seven runs batted in and two runs scored in the Cubs 15-2 win over the Mets.

For the record, that score is not an April Fools' joke. Who would fall for that?

OLD NEWS: Reports say that Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus had a little sit-down with Augusta National's Hootie Johnson to convince the chairman to rethink his position on limiting, by age, players who can qualify for the Masters.

You see, Johnson had established a policy last year that set an age limit of 65, provided a past champion plays at least 10 events the preceding year. The policy was to go into effect in 2004.

Had the policy remained, this would have been the final Masters for Palmer, 73. Nicklaus, 63, would have had only a few years before he was disqualified.

But the talk worked. Johnson took it all back. Nicklaus and Palmer can keep playing.

The best part?

Masters news about golf, not Martha Burk.

BULLETIN-BOARD MATERIAL: Tim Hardaway, he of 36 years and 2 games played this season, on opening his comeback against the local NBA team with 14 points in 21 minutes: "Playing the Chicago Bulls wasn't really a test."

TIM, HOW ABOUT: If the Bulls weren't a test, maybe he can get a game with a real opponent. Say, Arizona. Or Kentucky. Their schedules are open.

ALL CLEAR: With everything going on, Bears QB Henry Burris said he isn't worried about playing for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe, mainly because the Bucs and Packers aren't on the schedule.

PICKS TO CLICK: The Bears report they will get three extra late-round picks in the April 26-27 draft as compensation for losing unrestricted free agents James Allen, Walt Harris and Tony Parrish. The three additional selections--Nos. 171 (Round 5), 206 (Round 6) and 261 (Round 7)--give the Bears a total of 11 picks in the draft, none of which will be used on a franchise quarterback.

BOY, IS HE STRICT: Lions coach Steve Mariucci is putting his stamp on every detail of the team. "I'm going to explain to them how I want things done--how we will dress, how we will practice in shorts, how we will practice in pads and how we will take notes in meetings. We'll talk about how they will lift weights and what they will be eating at the training table." Yo, Steve, don't forget the salad fork versus the dinner fork. Could be critical the next time you win the toss in OT.

PLAYOFF HOCKEY: The NHL suspended Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Joey Kocur for two games for throwing a chair on the ice in the last minute Saturday against St. Louis. That would never happen in a basketball game.

MORE, MORE: From that same game, Blues coach Joel Quenneville was fined $5,000 for putting all of his tougher players on the ice with 1 minute left in the game. That would never happen at a Hawks game.

NAME GAME: The board that owns and runs Comiskey Park approved the venue's name change to U.S. Cellular Field. What you call it among friends is still up to you.